That's the question...
Ever notice that even very rational people get very irrational on the subject of religion? If I try to set aside my preconceived desire for there to be a real religion, I don't like the answer things like this lead me to.
goatshapeddemon
JoinedPosts by goatshapeddemon
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5
Cargo cults: scary indictment of human nature
by goatshapeddemon induring wwii, isolated islands full of aboriginal people were suddenly inundated with civilization far advanced from anything they'd ever seen.
to them, it was magic from the gods.
after the soldiers left, the islanders built bamboo planes and control towers and cleared makeshift runways and talked nonsense into coconut headsets.
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Cargo cults: scary indictment of human nature
by goatshapeddemon induring wwii, isolated islands full of aboriginal people were suddenly inundated with civilization far advanced from anything they'd ever seen.
to them, it was magic from the gods.
after the soldiers left, the islanders built bamboo planes and control towers and cleared makeshift runways and talked nonsense into coconut headsets.
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goatshapeddemon
During WWII, isolated islands full of aboriginal people were suddenly inundated with civilization far advanced from anything they'd ever seen. To them, it was magic from the gods. After the soldiers left, the islanders built bamboo planes and control towers and cleared makeshift runways and talked nonsense into coconut headsets. They marched around with fake guns, all in the belief that these rites would summon the planes carrying the cargo back to the islands. These religions still exist today.
This is scary. We as a "civilized" culture were physically able to watch (cause?) the birth of a religion, born from phenomena the locals weren't capable of understanding, but was in no way magical. You have to wonder ... Talking into a coconut to bring the magic cargo planes back is positively absurd to us... But really, is talking out loud to an empty sky and invoking the name of god or Christ to bring an end to suffering, sickness, war, etc. any different?
http://www.damninteresting.com/john-frum-and-the-cargo-cults/
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Julia gets hit with the Shun Gun for the first time...and it really hurts.
by Julia Orwell inmy jw friend of 20 years, the first one i ever met, the one who got me into jwism in the first place, unfriended me from facebook without explanation.
other jws who have unfriended me at least called me names (apostate) and told me they were unfriending me, but they were no loss.
but someone who's been your friend since you were 13...and no explanation...i'd think 20 years- 20 years!
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goatshapeddemon
My "best friend" did that exact same thing to me. Others told me they were unfriending me. She just one day was gone.
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How will the WT spin China???
by Freeof1914 ini read an article this morning on how china is quickly reaching even footing with the united states in all aspects; military, economic etc.
the article continued saying how it was imperative that the united states recognize that it would be forced to behave accordingly or risk ddestabilizing the world.
another interesting statement was made that sooner rather than later the u.s. would become the 2nd largest economy falling behind china.
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goatshapeddemon
At the district convention a few years ago in their typical "end-mongering", they said that the USA WILL BE the world power when Armageddon come.
Lol, their only way out of that one will be that the Beast that was, but is not, yet will be again wasn't actually the UNited Nations, but rather the United States, hehe.
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Looooooooooong Prayers...
by likeabird inlet's have a bit of a laugh.. .
who of you rolled your eyes when brother never ending prayers was called up to give the closing prayer?.
who of you then proceeded to tap your feet, fidget loudly or start doing balancing acts off the back of the chair in front of you while waiting for it to end?.
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goatshapeddemon
The last prayer of the district convention was Allllllways a doozy. Or should I say, dozy...
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What problem did being a JW leave with your personality?
by frogonmytoe inand i don't (necessarily) mean a religious or spiritual one.. for example, i think the traces of guilt and paranoia i often fight with come from being a born-in, but my biggest issue by far is not being able to live in the moment.. i have listened to the power of now audiobook (and eckhart tolle's voice put me to sleep) so i read it instead.
i have read other self-help books, most of them buddhist in leaning, but i still find it hard to stop thinking only in the future (thanks to the great trib, armageddon), or in the past (jesus, flood, 1914 being responsible for that).
and whilst i no longer believe the big a is looming, and barely give anything else a second thought, my behaviour has projected itself, and i still find it difficult just to 'be' in the moment, enjoying and savouring what i'm doing, and doing it to the best of my ability, i'm forever thinking what is coming up, and what i did badly last time.. my sister said the last time i visited her that she felt like she was waiting for something to happen "but not like armageddon, something else".
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goatshapeddemon
Lots of this sounds familiar: thinking outside of the box and making friends with people my own age. Ugh. It's a wonder I got married, except haha, that he was a JW too so we were equally stunted in that department.
Only now four years later am I starting to learn how to do so.
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Anyone here been Dfd for 'apostacy'?
by Julia Orwell injust wanna know.
i'm doing the fade but i reckon my big mouth could get me dfd.
i know plenty who've been dfd for fornication/adultery, but never met one dfd for speaking the truth.
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goatshapeddemon
My in-laws have become increasingly vocal about things ... "indiscreet" you might say. They're trying to help the people in their congregation see the light, but they've been asking for trouble. Anyway, my father-in-law in particular has been extremely vocal about the overlapping generation issue thinking everyone disagreed with that one so it was safe to criticize... Last Saturday several elders asked to meet with him... I think it's the beginning of the end for them.
We've shut our mouths and faded without incident, but i don't think they're going to be so fortunate. We think a DF is in the offing. Once an elder body smells apostasy, they won't settle til there's blood. The elder body where we live is STILL hounding my parents because their fade wasn't as smart as ours. *sigh*
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I make a vow 2015 will be my last DC to attend ever !!!
by 5go ineven then it will be just be a sunday to see if the fall off come true, or not.. heck this year and next will probally just enough to make it look like i showed up for it.
thankfully i live around the city it's held in i so it's not a huge sacrafice..
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goatshapeddemon
We're attending this year just for the fun of it. Gonna bring popcorn and sit in the rafters to watch the show!
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Sparlock and 8 Governing Body?
by TheDarksideHasCalledMe ini have a very warped sense humor somedays and i'm proud of it at times as well.
i hope you guys like it so let me know!!.
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goatshapeddemon
Good Star Trek episode... I get the reference. :-)
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Hello
by ctrwtf ini thought it was time for a formal introduction.
i've lurked here for literally years, sometimes posting sometimes not.
but i've never told my story and now seems as good a time as any.
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goatshapeddemon
Love the story. Same thing happened to my husband and I re: Adam and Eve. Many JWs don't realize the implications, but you are correct. The whole thing unravels.